The Ministry of Transport will extend an inspection of all taxi companies operating in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City this year, a senior official has said.

Chief inspector Nguyen Xuan Hao said at a press briefing on January 9 that his ministry had suspended six taxi companies in Hanoi and two in HCMC following inspections carried out between November 11 and December 2 last year.

In Hanoi, five of the six taxi brands - BG, Phu Gia, Hong Hung, Le Gia and Mua Xuan - were suspended after they failed to produce valid business licenses.

Inspectors also revoked the license of Taxi 14 belonging to the Anh Dung Joint Stock Company after it failed to meet the conditions of registered transportation businesses.

In HCMC, the two firms suspended were the Tourism Vehicle Cooperative No.2, which operated dozens of cabs but had no managerial oversight, and the Minh Duc Tourism Transport Cooperative, which had just 50 taxis operating while it had 170 taxi licenses granted by HCMC Transport Department.

Inspectors also suspended three taxi brands Happy Taxi, Petrolimex Taxi and Festival Taxi from operating at the Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCMC for various violations.

Hao said the ministry will continue to inspect all remaining taxi companies in the two cities, adding that many taxi brands which have yet to be inspected even have lower performance than those inspected.